Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom is a 1985 action arcade game developed and published by Atari Games, based on the 1984 film of the same name, the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise. It is also the first Atari System 1 arcade game to include digitized speech, including voice clips of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones and Amrish Puri as Mola Ram, as well as John Williams' music from the film.
Gameplay
The player assumes the role of Indiana Jones as he infiltrates the lair of the evil Thuggee cult, armed only with his trademark whip. The player's ultimate goal is to free the children the cult has kidnapped as slaves, recover the stolen relics known as "Sankara Stones," and escape from the titular temple. Throughout Temple of Doom's several modes of gameplay, Indy loses a life if hit once (sustaining physical contact with enemies or other hazards), or from falling onto a walkable surface from too far a height.
Numerous on-screen messages appear following Indy succumbing to different fates (only on the first times.) Examples: If he's caught by a Thuggee, the message is, "Whip the Thuggee guards!" or if he falls too far it's, "Watch your feet on the paths!"
After choosing a difficulty level, the player begins the game, initially composed of three levels, each based on specific scenes from the film.
First level: Subterranean Mines
The first level takes place within the Thuggees' subterranean mines. Crossing mountainous peaks and conveyor belts, Indy must find the cages that hold children around the mine, and destroy their locks with his whip. The whip also serves as Indy's only means of defense; while it destroys the killer bats that float around the mines, it only stuns the Thuggee guards that chase after him. However, these enemies can be knocked into such hazards as lava pits and flaming gasoline cans, which will dispose of them permanently.
If Indy delays in rescuing children, or remains in one area for too long, Thuggee leader Mola Ram will appear and throw a flaming heart at him. The heart may be whipped away, but Mola Ram will continue to reappear until the player takes action.
The level ends when Indy reaches a mine shaft accompanied by a cart. Though there is no penalty for completing the level without freeing all of the children, no bonus will be awarded.
Second level: Minecart Chase
In the second level, Indy must ride the minecart in a high-speed race to the temple's entrance. He must avoid dead ends and missing rails by tilting his minecart along the tracks appropriately; he must also outrun or overturn carts controlled by Thuggee guards, who force themselves into collisions with his cart.
The level ends when Indy reaches the end of the track unscathed. In order to brake, Indy must slow the cart, which the computer will perform automatically as it reaches the temple entrance. However, Indy cannot use his whip while braking, and his cart is still in danger of crashing if an enemy cart catches up. The faster the player presses the "whip" button, the faster Indy will exit the cart; if he can do so moments before an enemy crashes into him, the game will announce "CLOSE CALL, INDY!", and award bonus points.
Third level: The Temple
The third level takes place in the Temple of Kali, where a single Sankara Stone is kept. While avoiding booby traps, guards and Mola Ram, Indy must recover the Stone and escape through one of four doors below the statue of Kali.
The game repeats through these three levels until all three Sankara Stones are recovered; the player must then traverse the first two levels a fourth time, after which the temple level is replaced by a bridge level.
Fourth level: The Bridge
Crossing a narrow bridge, Indy's movement is reduced from two dimensions to one — left to right. From one end of the bridge, Thuggee guards will run across in an attempt to reach Indy. At the opposite end, Mola Ram awaits, throwing flaming hearts with increasing speed. Indy must cross the bridge safely within the span of a single life; if he can reach the stolen Sankara Stone at the end of the bridge, the game will enter a cut scene similar to the climax of the film: Indy cuts the ropes supporting the bridge, sending Mola Ram to his death as Indy climbs to safety to reach Willie and Short Round. A bonus is given if the player pushes towards them and whips.
Fifth level: Challenge Round
Although the game ends from a linear perspective after the bridge level, it continues on into the "challenge round," once again taking place in the subterranean mines. Indy is instructed to collect golden idols that are hidden throughout the mines, again chased by guards and bats, along with the Prince of Pankot, who stuns Indy with his voodoo doll. After collecting an idol, another one appears elsewhere on the map within a preset time limit; the game will instruct the player when a new idol has appeared. Though this is the final level, the game will continue to provide idols so long as the player still has lives.
Right Whip/P2 Start 2
Coin 1 5
Coin 2 6
Coin 3 7
P1 Up UP
P1 Down DOWN
P1 Left LEFT
P1 Right RIGHT
Left Whip/P1 Start LCONTROL or Mouse B1
Released
Aug, 1985
Also For
Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, MSX, NES, ZX Spectrum
Developed by
Atari Games Corporation
Published by
Atari Games Corporation
Misc
Licensed
Setting
Interwar
Visual
2D scrolling, Isometric
Gameplay
Arcade, Platform
Perspective
Bird's-eye view, Side view
Genre
Action
Description
The computer versions of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom are conversions of the Atari arcade game based on the second movie in the series. As Indy, the player must complete several cycles of the following three types of levels:
- Mine level: Whip your way through a mine in order to free children that are held captive. Use your whip to swing across chasms, climb ladders, ride along conveyor belts and defend yourself against attacks from Thuggee guards, bats, snakes and the fireball-throwing Mola ram. Escape with the mine cart after you've freed all children.
- Mine cart level: Pick the right route through a network of tracks while riding in a mine cart. Avoid potholes, broken tracks & guards in carts and safely reach the end of the track.
- Temple level: Make your way to the altar and grab the Sankara stone while Mola Ram, bats and Thuggee guards attack you. Watch out for that lava.
With every cycle the mine & mine cart levels become more complex, the layout of the temple levels is always the same. After several cycles there's a showdown with Mola Ram on the rope bridge.
From Mobygames.com. Original Entry
Reviewer:
monroville
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favoritefavoritefavorite -
May 18, 2023
Subject:
No mention of controls for PC
Can someone please post what the controls are?
I assume it is:
5 = input coin
1 or 2 = start game
Arrow keys = left, right, faster, slower
Ctrl = whip
If someone can confirm (and post more key commands) that would be appreciated.
Reviewer:
dizdutch
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 25, 2019
Subject:
Start Game
HIt 5,2,2 to start
Reviewer:
elliot_28
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-
November 4, 2018
Subject:
Not working
Just tried it today and after loading, it doesn't start up.
Reviewer:
Fashionsuan91
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 27, 2018
Subject:
Indiana Jones Game
Playing this game was pretty fun to be the first time on a computer. I actually have never played an arcade game on a computer or laptop before. It is really fun, although I do find it a bit easier playing the game either on an actual arcade machine or as a video game, such as a nintendo. The only challenge was using some of the arrow buttons to make it work well and to try hard not to loose. The small figures were cute to be honest and fun at the same time. What happened as I played was going through different levels, this game was based from the second part of the original movie, it was challenging and all but I did make it through with the game. I did loose a few lives but it was worth my time playing it. I chose this game because I actually used to play this game of Indiana Jones Adventures, based off from the three movies. When I was younger I would play this game and would spend a few hours playing it. As the only girl with older brothers, they grew up playing with video games and besides playing with dolls and other toys I would once in a while get to play the super nintendo from the early 90's.
Reviewer:
Mr. filmmaker
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
August 12, 2018
Subject:
What a great game.
Great Game! A classic from the arcade golden era. This was a very popular stand up that followed the movie.
Reviewer:
cagethelonewolf
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-
March 17, 2016
Subject:
lonewolf review
the game it self wont start i can put in coins but not start game it looks cool i give it no rateing till i can try it
Reviewer:
J-Ram
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
January 25, 2016
Subject:
Looks Good
I don't know how to even start.
Reviewer:
phoremat
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
October 9, 2015
Subject:
Hold on to your potatoes !
Love the game as a kid in the 80's since I loved anything Indy! Wasn't sure how to play it years ago but loved whipping the Thuggies and swinging over things!
Reviewer:
Dave the 3erd
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favoritefavoritefavorite -
September 20, 2015
Subject:
YES
GOOD GAME!!!!
Reviewer:
Pitfighter1
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 9, 2014
Subject:
Classic
Awesome game with incredible graphics for the time. I remember getting to the mine cart stage for the first time and was blown away. There really wasn't anything else like it at the time.
Reviewer:
80's Guy
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
November 2, 2014
Subject:
Good action for the time
A guilty pleasure.
One of the first arcade games that actually followed the plot of its source to a reasonable degree. (Krull did too sort of, but this one is actually fun!)
A true way to find out how evil you are is how often you would chuckle at the "you left children behind, Mola Ram will be pleased!" message you would get after the first level if you rushed through without completing the intended objective. (But really, you just want to get to that damn mine cart so you can whip the oil cans into the thugees!)
Little known fact- John Romero and Carmack from iD used the difficulty selection screen as the inspiration for the almost identical (albeit 3D version) in the original Quake.